AN IMPRESSIVE performance saw Cardiff Blues North Development setup become winners of the WRU U16 Inter District Competition for the second time in three seasons.

They secured victory over Scarlets East at Maesteg RFC with the help of Cynon Valley players, captain Nathan Mason, of Mountain Ash, and goalkicker Liam Jones, of Aberdare.

Mason scored the Blues’ second try of the evening and Jones was on hand to convert the extras.

On the night, the Blues were quickly at the races and gained good field position from the opening plays and tested the Scarlets’ defence.

Early pressure led to the opening points of the game from the boot of Blues full back Rhys Bow who slotted a penalty.

The lead was then increased shortly after as No.8 Jay Evans, called up from the bench to replace injured Ed Jones, powered over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Lapses in concentration from the restart lead to an infringement, which Scarlets outside half Ben Williams converted into three points.

Scrum half Josh Thomas kept the Blues on their toes with some sharp breaks around the rucks and mauls.

Then before the half hour mark, the Blues were rewarded for a brave decision to kick for touch rather than taking the points as Mount’s Mason reacted quickest at a ruck near the posts to claim the second try of the game. Jones converted.

The Blues started to enjoy more possession and kept their opponents pinned in their own half.

But the warning signs were still there for the Blues as Williams doubled his points tally with a three pointer from in front of the posts.

Shortly before the break, the Blues managed to once again increase their lead when centre Luke Davies, of Gilfach Goch, found a gap and scored under the posts.

The Blues came out after the break looking to build on their first half performance.

But, the second half never really got going as both teams became frustrated by what seemed to be set piece after set piece, slowing the game down considerably.

Into the last quarter of the second half, the Scarlets threw everything they had at the Blues line and with the ever increasing penalty count going against them and with a man in the bin, it was inevitable that their try line would be breached.

It was only a matter of time before they scored under the posts.

It was now game on as the Scarlets clearly had their tails up and the bit between their teeth.

Going into the highly charged closing moments, the Blues had to endure a relentless onslaught that needed a huge defensive effort.